By Ryan Petersen (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: April 4, 2012
#24-31940 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford
604.557.0600
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Price: $20 or under (with a few group or specialty dishes over)
Noodles are an obsession of mine. From plush Italian spaghetti to chewy Japanese soba, I enjoy them all. So when I discovered the Asian fusion restaurant Noodle Road located at South Fraser Way and Clearbrook, I grabbed my appetite and a friend and headed out to see what they offered.
At first we were put off by the location and exterior of the building, as it is located in a strip mall next to a Value Village and a liquor store, but once inside our impression quickly changed. The restaurant offers a cozy intimate setting with a mixed deco approach of tiles, large floral wallpaper and white bamboo dividers, which create an interesting atmosphere for diners.
Noodle House’s menu consists of a mix of Korean, Chinese and Japanese dishes that all focus on noodles. I opted for the Shanghai pomodoro, spaghetti noodles wok-fried with vegetables and chili tomato sauce served with a choice of beef, chicken, seafood or tofu. My companion being the slightly less adventurous of the two of us decided upon one of their lunch box sets of vegetable teriyaki, chow mein and vegetable rolls.
While we waited for our meals, the server brought us water, tea and some complementary chilled vermicelli noodles coated in a smoky sesame sauce that I found to be both delicious and refreshing. In short order our meals arrived and I was faced with a heaping deep dish plate of Shanghai pomodoro with tofu (having been raised on spaghetti sauce with tofu, I wished to make the comparison). The chili sauce offered heat without overloading the pallet. The vegetables were cooked but still crisp and the tofu had a nice crisp skin with a soft, silky inner texture that absorbed so much of that delicious sauce. I enjoyed the fact that it was all fried together in a wok as each noodle was well coated in sauce and was not dry or gummy in texture, a problem I have found at some spaghetti restaurants.
My friend’s box set was a standard affair that can be found at most Japanese style restaurants. While I did find the vegetable rolls too large to eat without them falling apart, the combination of sweet yam, the refreshing and crisp daikon radish and creamy smooth avocado proved to be an excellent mix of taste and texture. A few other things that stood out for me were the light teriyaki sauce that was used and how the vegetables were not overcooked and maintained their freshness.
Be aware that they favour a Korean style chopstick, which is thinner than what most western people have been exposed to and takes some getting used to (at least for this reviewer), but the staff are more than happy to offer you a fork if so desired.
The service was friendly yet unobtrusive, without servers continually asking about refills or how the meal was. Drinks were refilled and empty plates were removed quickly and quietly. The premises is licensed so dinners can accompany their meal with beer or cider or the more adventurous diners can try a Korean Soju, a drink comparable in taste to vodka (or so Wikipedia claims). The overall experience for my friend and I was an enjoyable one and I, at least, would be more than happy to dine there again.
